I sorted the table by shots on goal per 60 minutes of 5v5 since there's reason to believe that in the small sample of ice-time we're using there's a very large chance that percentages and luck affect goals and points numbers.

The clear indication is that Kesler and Higgins have something together. Perhaps if they were joined by a third, puck-driving player who play centre and let Kesler play the perimeter on the wing, they'd have even more success. I digress, however. Kesler has scored on 5.8% of his shots when playing with David Booth and 8.1% when playing with Alex Burrows. That makes a very big difference in the small sample, but if we're assuming things even out in the long-run (Booth is a much better player than Vancouverites give him credit for) that's a difference about two goals over 700 minutes. Not huge, but noteworthy.

Defence

Yes, there is a defensive component to hockey. It is unfortunately very tough to measure defence. I mentioned above that basically the only time Kesler and Burrows played with each other was on the penalty kill. That suits our purposes, and we can see exactly how Kesler and Burrows fared in restricting shots on the penalty kill.

For our purposes though, we have 30 names on the list, and Ryan Kesler is not well-represented in the Top 5, coming in at 12th, 22nd, 23rd and 29th in the four seasons he's represented. Burrows is 2nd, 10th, 14th, 18th and 20th. Again, it's tough to measure quality of competition in these situations and can presumably assume that Kesler played in tougher situations than Burrows when they were separate, but Kesler never seems to have been the team's primary option on the PK.

In 2013, he was hurt. In 2011 and 2012, he played fewer PK minutes than Manny Malhotra. In 2010, he played more PK minutes than any Canuck, but not when Ryan Johnson was playing in games.

It's difficult to put together, but I think there's some indication that Kesler and Burrows haven't exactly been a reliable shutdown unit when together on the penalty kill, nor are they all-world scorers when playing together at 5-on-5. It may be interesting to see just how Tortorella uses all of his shiny new toys in October, but I think he'd be wise to keep Burrows and Kesler separate.

Cam Charron is a BC hockey fan that writes about hockey on many different websites including this one.

In the first chart are you using total TOI or EV Strength TOI only? Because if Burrows and Kesler's TOI together includes their time on the PK, which you stated is their primary deployment together, then of course we expect them to post low goals/points/shots/60 together...

I still like the the idea of a Higgins/Kesler/Burrows line handling tough minutes so Sedins/Kassian and a line of Booth/Schroeder/Hansen can get some easier competition. Giving Schroeder the "Hodgson" treatment this season would be a wise move, since it's pretty clear he doesn't fit with the team going forward.

Fact about AV and Burrows is that Burr seemed to be his utility guy. 1st line scorer, Penalty killer that played the point on the power play...sometimes and 3rd line defensive stopper. One thing about Burrows is that if he is given a role he will play it. With their speed and offensive skill Kesler and Burrows would do well together. Under AV's constant line juggling mid game, they were just thrown together and told d"do something to jump start us". Torts is a structured guy that will define roles and let the players do their jobs. AV.was wishy washy that way and the teams performance showed in bad penalties and sloppy turn overs. This team needs structure, so put each player in a role and let him perform.

I still like the the idea of a Higgins/Kesler/Burrows line handling tough minutes so Sedins/Kassian and a line of Booth/Schroeder/Hansen can get some easier competition. Giving Schroeder the "Hodgson" treatment this season would be a wise move, since it's pretty clear he doesn't fit with the team going forward.

Am I literally the only person who remembers that Burrows and Kesler broke out together while both playing in a 3rd line checking capacity?

I remember also, but that was many many moons ago mon frere. Now the question is where do each of them fit in our team concept. Is Burrows a scoring first liner or two way second liner? Is Kesler better at center second line winger or 1st line winger? Finding the role that will make a player successful is a coaches job and the reason AV stayed too long. It seemed like he was always trying to fit square pegs in round holes. Kes and Burr have excelled beyond their 3 rd line days, but haven't found their niche.... Hopefully this year.

I feel you, but I'm just saying, if I don't ride a bicycle for a couple years, I still know how to do it. I'm just saying it hasn't been done very much since then, and I'm not willing to rule it out now either.

I'm not saying they should definitely be together though. I'm not that crazy.

I feel you, but I'm just saying, if I don't ride a bicycle for a couple years, I still know how to do it. I'm just saying it hasn't been done very much since then, and I'm not willing to rule it out now either.

I'm not saying they should definitely be together though. I'm not that crazy.

Agreed, nothing can be ruled out. Lass may be a bust w the Twins and Burr is the answer. The biggest point about this offseason is that for a team that has a core that has played together a while, there are no real defined roles outside of the twins. AV ran a lose ship and juggled lines often and not always because of injuries. This is why I am optimistic about the coming year. Last year was a mess with the lockout FA and injuries, Torts will define roles and hold guys accountable, not just demote with out a reason. Take all the talent and put them in a role in which they will succeed. Still can't believe Hason was on the top line.... Who does that!

im not justifying any one point here- but last season when vancouver played edmonton- a game where they combined for 3-4 pts and ebbett managed to net two goals, kesler and burrows looked fantastic together. taking into account the opposition of course. but still, they looked smart and savvy of eachother, and that was the highlight of that game. that's what i remember, and hope to see

Schroeder appears to me to be young, skilled and moving play the right way.

I believe what he means by the Hodgson treatment is what Gillis said after trading Cody that he and AV inflated his numbers by giving him mostly offensive zone face offs and match up that woulld be beneficial. Giving a 3rd line center O zone face offs only put a lot of pressure on your top two lines that score more goals. We need a two way guy that can win big face offs in both zones and is tough to play against.

Personally, I would like to see the lines as 2A and 2B. Assuming the first line is Sedin, Sedin, Kassian (which I like). I would set up the next two lines as follows: Higgins, Kesler and Burrows. Kesler the gun, Higgins the setup and Burrows the digger. They have speed and some toughness and grit and would be responsible defensively. Booth, Santorelli and Hansen. Booth is a power forward who goes to the net and he had a very successful year when paired with Santorelli in Florida. Santorelli is a decent 2 way guy with speed and Hansen is the perfect speed guy with some grit who can contribute. If you then have a 4th line of size with Richardson, Lain and Weise or Sestito, you can do some banging. This gives the kids another year to progress. I also think that Kassian will do fine as long as he remembers his job - go to the net and keep your stick down and hit anything that goes near a Sedin in the corner. I would like to see a face rub tried if you then had to face Kassian's ugly mug (sorry guy, but he ain't pretty looking on the ice.)